So busy!

I can't believe how busy I have been lately.  Between the kids, the house, getting ready for the holidays, taking a girl's trip to CA and Inspired to Scrap, my time just vanishes!

Anyhow, I wanted to share a few things that are going on around here.  :)
1. I am having a great time being inspired in our journaling class right now!  Our designers and guest designer are amazing and have such fabulous ideas! (you can totally still join if you want to!!! Scroll down here to register- http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/store-kits-and-classes )


2. I've been scrapping and sketching...but it's been mostly for classes. :( I will share a little peeky though!! This is from an upcoming challenge in the journaling class currently going on.)

3. I am still menu planning!  I do it every week without fail.  But lately, we've been making lots of the same old boring and easy meals.  I have just had a hard time finding a lot of time to cook. Here's a yummy and easy recipe we had last night (and have had many times). Everyone loves this here!
Black Beans and Rice

Kielbasa (I use the lean turkey variety)
2 cans black beans-drained and rinsed (I dumped in one can without draining it)
1 can diced tomatoes (Mexican if you have them) (not drained)
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
cooked white rice
avocado-optional but really good with it

Slice the sausage into bite-sized pieces. Throw it in a skillet and sear. Toss the garlic, cook another minute or two then add the beans and tomatoes and let it all simmer.

Serve the bean mixture over rice and garnish with sliced avocado.
YUM!!!!
Have you cooked anything easy and yummy lately that I can add to our rotation??

4. Haven't had ANY time at the sewing machine in months. :( This totally makes me sad.  I need to find time in 2011 for some sewing.  I have several quilts and other projects I want to work on.
Have you made anything fun lately???
 
Let me know you are still around!  I will try to be better about updating my blog. :)
Stacey

Have you entered to win??

We are giving away a free journaling class on Inspired to Scrap!  Have you entered?  Just leave a comment on this blog post to enter.  You can become a fan of I2S on Facebook as well for another entry (be sure to leave a comment if you do!!). Go to the post!

You can also see a video on making some little flowers and enter to win some chipboard letters on the forum.  :)

Here's a peek at a project how-to I will be sharing next week on the forum-

Happy Friday!
Stacey

5 years layout- Scrap Challenge

I created this layout for the November scraps challenge on the Inspired to Scrap forum. I used the new Sketchy Thursday's sketch and Valerie's idea to spray bubble wrap with mist instead of using paint.
Here's my scrap pile (leftovers from the Sept. I2S kit):

And here's my layout:

Hope you are able to sneak in some creative time soon!!

New kit layout

I FINALLY got to sit and create a layout using the new Inspired to Scrap kit! Yipeee! Ellie is napping, Joshua and Abby are coloring and it is snowing outside. (The snow is melting as soon as it hits the ground, though.)

Here's my layout...this is such a fun kit!

I hope you have a wonderful and warm Monday!!!! :)
Stacey

New kit revealed!

Did you see the new kit on the Inspired to Scrap blog??? You have to check out the design team work using it in the gallery as well.

Here's the kit!

It's about $5 less than retail and there's also a really great combo deal if you get this kit and the first kit right now in the store! (There's only a few left of the first kit!)

The sketch class is ending so I will finally have time to work with the kit and I will definitely share here when I do!!! What have you been working on?

Want a peek?

Want to peek at one of my upcoming layouts for the sketch class going on right now at Inspired to Scrap? (It's not too late to join us!! Visit the store to purchase Inspired by Sketches.)

Been busy creating lots of sketches and layouts for class. I've also been working on and off on a fairy doll house with Abby. So fun! What have you been working on lately?

Sketch class begins Friday! (and a giveaway!)

Want to take the sketch class for free? Go check it out!
http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/2010/10/10/sketch-class-giveaway

Inspired to Scrap has a new class beginning on Friday- “Inspired by Sketches.” Complete 15 layouts using brand new sketches! The design team will present a new sketch for you each day during this 15 day class. We’ll have inspiration, techniques and challenges for you to be motivated to complete more pages.
Features of the class-
~Access to a private area of the message board
~Daily inspiration will include a new sketch and samples
~Video tutorials(special surprise techniques!)
~All new samples and layouts to spark your creativity
~Encouragement and support to complete 15+ layouts
~Inspiration from fellow classmates
**Visit the Inspired to Scrap store to purchase the class.
www.inspiredtoscrap.net/store

Now for the fun part-we’re giving away one free class!! Here’s how you can win:
1. Leave us a comment on this post. (On http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net...not/ my blog. :) )
2. Post about the contest and/or class on your blog (or facebook!)
3. Visit our Facebook page and give us a thumbs up (I think it’s called “Like us” but that sounds so silly to me! LOL)
4. Join the message board and post at least 15 times (if you are already registered, great! Just start chatting!)
5. Upload a new layout or two to the gallery (leave some love while you’re there as well!
**Be sure to leave a comment for each item you complete.
Deadline is Monday night. I will draw a winner on Tuesday morning.
Good luck everyone!!

Card Inspiration Class

We have a Weekend Warrior card class this weekend...but you know what? You don't even have to be available this weekend to take it!  Everyone who signs up gets the class content afterwards so you can work through it later at your own pace.  :) Hope you'll consider joining us!! See here for details- www.inspiredtoscrap.net/store
**One of these days I will post about something other than Inspired to Scrap related..I promise!  But that's what I have been spending all of my creative time on lately.  Although I *could* show you a picture of the spaghetti squash that exploded in my microwave tonight.  Yikes! LOL

A couple of new layouts for the crop

Finished these pages for my challenges at the I2S Fall Crop.  The crop goes through Tuesday so you have lots of time to join in the fun!!

Hope you get in some scrappy time soon!!!

Stacey

Want to win a great prize???

Inspired to Scrap is giving away some really cool prizes this weekend!!!  Join us for our Fall Crop at www.inspiredtoscrap.net/forum starting Thursday morning (Sept. 30).  The crop goes until Tuesday night. Challenges, chatting, games, inspiration.
Here are the prizes:

One Free Kit!!

















Crate Paper embellishment set!!



















Fall fun embellishments (Jenni Bowlin notecard pack and kit goodies)

















Pink Paislee stamps-



















Free Weekend Warrior Card Inspiration Class (Oct. 8-10) $5 value
Beat the holiday frenzy and create beautiful cards to send to your family and friends. We will provide card sketches, samples and encouragement to complete as many cards as you need. Class will take place in a private area of the message board. Join us for a holiday card inspired weekend.

Free 15/15 Inspired by Sketches Class (Oct. 15-29) $15 value
Let’s complete lots of pages using sketches! The design team will present a new sketch for you each day during this 15 day class. We’ll have lots of inspiration and challenges for you to be motivated to complete more pages.Features of the class-
Access to a private area of the message board
Daily inspiration will include a new sketch and samples
Video tutorials(special surprise techniques!)
All new samples and layouts to spark your creativity
Encouragement and support to complete 15+ layouts
Inspiration from fellow classmates

See you at the crop!!! (Get an extra entry by sharing about the crop on your blog and/or Facebook page!!!)

Fall Crop (this week!!)

Inspired to Scrap will be having a Fall crop (Sept. 30- Oct. 5) on our message board (www.inspiredtoscrap.net/forum).  We'll have lots of great challenges, games, and inspiration.  We have a new forum and gallery so if you registered prior to the move, you will need to re-register. We’ll have some great prizes such as a free kit, a free class and some other items. I hope to see you all there so we can be inspired together!!

School mini album

Here's a little album I made a couple of years ago for Joshua.  (I need to make some for the girls as well!).  I had this tutorial posted on Paper Popsicles but since they are not open anymore, Melissa gave me the go-ahead to post it on Inspired to Scrap.  You can view the step-by-step tutorial on the brand new message board there- www.inspiredtoscrap.net/forum (you will need to register for this new forum even if you already registered for the first one...we had web hosting issues so we had to change over to this much better forum!)

New board and gallery

In case you didn't get the email, Inspired to Scrap switched web hosts and we have a much better board and gallery now.  You will need to re-register but I think everyone will be much happier with it. (I know many of you had issues logging in to the first one).  I hope you'll join us there for some scrappy chit chat and inspiration.  http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/ (click on the tabs at the top for the forum and gallery).
Thanks!!!

15/15 class started today!

Our first 15/15 class started today on Inspired to Scrap! Want a peek at one of today's samples?

It's not too late to join us! You can purchase the class at anytime in the store at http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/
See you there!

New sketch and a layout!

Here's a new sketch I posted on the Inspired to Scrap message board.  My page uses the I2S kit.

 

I have been so inspired to scrap lately with getting ready for the 15/15 class and playing with the new kit!  I hope you get some scrappy time in!

A new layout~

I finished this page late last night while everyone slept. :) Used the new Inspired to Scrap kit. I love these pictures I took of Abby when she turned three. This one is for the family album.

Fabric flower

Have you used fabric on your layouts?  There are so many fun fabrics out there and we are including some small pieces of fabric with the Inspired to Scrap kit. Here's a quick and easy no-sew fabric flower you can make. You can find more ideas as well as a video how-to on the Inspired to Scrap message board.

Hope you are getting in some scrappy time!
Stacey

Inspired to Scrap's kit release

Yay! Our first kit is ready to go and is up for sale at Inspired to Scrap! I started playing around with it last night and I love all the papers and goodies...such a fun kit!!

So...I am playing with scrappy goodies and preparing for our next class...so much inspiration! What's inspiring you these days?

It's almost kit time!!

I am was so excited to find these boxes on my doorstep today! Wanna know what was in them???!!

Goodies from Jillibean Soup and Bella Blvd!!  Waiting on a couple of other orders from different companies and then I'll be revealing Inspired to Scrap's FIRST KIT!!! (scheduled to arrive tomorrow!) I can hardly wait! Here's a little peek at what came in today-

Kits will be available early next week at http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/ . Plus, if that wasn't fun enough, we have our second class beginning in two weeks over there.  It's 15 days of Inspiration to help you complete 15 (or more!) layouts.  I hope you'll be joining us!!

Layout

Here's a super quick page I was able to throw together today. I used Stacy K.'s great sketch on the Inspired to Scrap blog.  Here's my layout. I used some old BG still hanging around in my scrappy stash.

I hope you'll check out her sketch and share a page in our gallery!

A fave class layout and ***kit*** news

Well, our first Inspired to Scrap class has ended and I just have to say that it was so much fun to plan!  I hope everyone who took the class enjoyed it and was inspired to get some pages completed.  I won't be sharing most of my layouts from class (although you can still buy the class content and samples in the Inspired to Scrap Store), but I do want to share one of my favorites.

Thanks for a great class and I hope to see you all in our next class in September.  It is 15 days of inspiration and challenges to get you scrapping. 

***Also, watch for the reveal of our very first kit in a couple of weeks (or less!). I ordered everything today and expect the items to start arriving late this week or early next week!!!  Fun!!***
Stacey

Whew! Lots of scrapping for class!

Been busy scrapping and working on samples for the Inspired by Borders class this weekend! It starts on Friday and there's a TON of great inspiration packed into the weekend. I can't wait to share what I have been working on. :) I don't want to give anything away, so I am not going to show you much...but here's a tiny little peek at a bit of a layout from day one (our technique day!).

Hope to see you in class!!
Stacey

Inspired to Scrap Class Schedule

Hey everyone!  We've posted the class schedule for Inspired to Scrap and are busy working on the first class coming up in just over a week!!  You can see the list of classes on the site home page- http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/home.htm and you can register for them in the store- http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/apps/webstore/

Our first class is a member inspired class based on a couple of requests. It is a weekend class - August 27-29 and it's called "Weekend Warriors- Inspired by Borders."  We are focusing on border strips and punches.  Anyone have those sitting around??  Yeah, I thought so...most of us probably have some. :) We'll be focusing on new ways to use those punches and pre-cut strips.  As a BONUS, we are including a really cool technique called "patterned paper transfers" using products you probably already have. You will receive daily instructions, ideas, tips and samples within the setting of a private message board.

* For those of you unavailable that weekend, you can still purchase the class (and any of the classes!) and you will receive the class content in a document after the class is over. You'll miss out on the fun of chatting and sharing during the class, but you can still learn some techniques and gain some inspiration.

I hope you will join us for an Inspired class this fall and get more pages completed!!
*Head on over to our message board and gallery if you haven't already joined! :)

New layout-Scraplift challenge

I posted a scraplifting challenge on the Inspired to Scrap blog today.  It is a challenge to lift one of your own layouts! Here's the page I completed for the challenge.  Head over there to see the page I lifted and our guest designer takes on the challenge as well.

Hope you get some time to scrapbook today!!

Chicken Taquitos and Refried Bean Soup - WW recipes

Here are a couple of tasty and low point recipes. These are great together (dip the taquitos in the soup) or separately.

Chicken Taquitos- From Hungry Girl

MAKES 4 SERVINGS 4 pts for 2 taquitos
Ingredients:
8 small (6-inch) yellow corn tortillas
One 9.75-oz. (or 10-oz.) can 98% fat-free chunk white chicken breast in water, drained well
1/2 cup salsa
1/3 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp. dry taco seasoning mix
Optional: red enchilada sauce, additional salsa, fat-free sour cream, for dipping

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
~In a medium bowl, combine the chicken and salsa, and mix thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
~Remove chicken mixture from the fridge, and drain any excess liquid. Add cheese and taco seasoning, and mix to combine. This is your filling. Set aside.
~Prepare a baking sheet by spraying with nonstick spray, and set it aside.
~Dampen two paper towels, and place tortillas between them. Microwave for about 1 minute, until tortillas are warm and pliable.
~Take one tortilla (keep the rest between the paper towels), spray both sides lightly with nonstick spray, and lay it flat on a clean dry surface. Spoon about 2 heaping tbsp. of filling onto the tortilla. Spread it evenly across the entire surface, and roll tortilla up tightly, so that you have a cigar-shaped tube. Secure with toothpicks and place seam-side down on the baking sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
~Bake for 14 - 16 minutes, until crispy. Allow taquitos to cool for 5 minutes. If you like, dunk in enchilada sauce, salsa, or sour cream!

Refried Bean Soup

WW Points: 1 point per Cup (10 servings)
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup onion, finely chopped
2 cans fat free refried beans
3 cups fat free chicken broth, divided

Directions:
1. Combine tomatoes, garlic, onion, and 1 cup of broth in a large pan; boil for five minutes, stirring often. (I like to blend the tomatoes up so there are less chunks.)
2. Stir in beans and remaining 2 cups broth; simmer over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring often.
I got this recipe from-http://thematzats.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!!! Happy Cooking!!!

New sketch and layout

Good morning everyone!  I posted a new sketch over at http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/  . I hope you'll check it out and share what you do with it! Here's the layout I created using it-

There's a gallery over there you can post your version of the sketch in. See you there!!

Organized scrappy area and a prize!

I've finished cleaning up my scrappy area for the first challenge on Inspired to Scrap...woohoo! Here are a couple of photos-

You can see a short video of me in my scrap space if you go to the Inspired to Scrap blog. I also have a cool prize up for grabs...

Check out the details here.
Have a great Friday!!! 

Inspired to Scrap!

I am so excited to tell you about my new site- Inspired to Scrap! The home page is http://www.inspiredtoscrap.net/ but the real fun is starting on the blog and message board TODAY! So go check it out, join my first blog challenge (don't forget to add the blog to your reader!), join the message board (you'll have to complete your profile and wait for approval before you can post) and tell me what you think!  I hope we can all be inspired to scrap together!!!

Big news....

I have something big I am working on!! Stay tuned! Any guesses? :)

Blueberry Coffee Cake

What do you do on a lazy Sunday afternoon when it is too hot to go outdoors? (After almost melting riding bikes to the park to play!)
Make a blueberry coffee cake, of course! LOL
I had some fresh blueberries from a farmer's market that I needed to use and this sounded oh so good after our bike ride.
This turned out moist and soft and delicious! We ate dessert before dinner (and after). I hope you'll try it. (Frozen blueberries should work, too.  Toss them in a bit of flour before folding them into the batter.  Frozen berries will often turn the cake a little greenish...don't worry, that's normal!)

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups blueberries

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans

3 tablespoons butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees .Grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the blueberries. Pour batter into prepared pan. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, cinnamon and chopped pecans. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the batter.

Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool and enjoy.

Happy baking!

Tinkerbell cake!

Abby turned three and we had a small fairy party to celebrate.  Happy birthday, Abby!

Ruffled t-shirt

How to prepare for two birthdays (Jeremy will be 35 and Abby will be 3) and three house guests(my parents and my sister) with only 24 hours to spare:

1. Make a giant list of things to do and clean (including clearing a path in the guest room, cleaning the bathroom and baking a Tinkerbell cake).
2. Ignore list and decide that your adorable little girl (who's going to be three tomorrow!) needs a t-shirt refashioned.
3. Trim off bottom of a too long and stained t-shirt that is too cute not to wear.
4. Hem t-shirt (uh...I really need some tips on this part!) and pin on fabric strips (see Elizabeth Kartchner's blog for my inspiration) to cover stains.
5. Decide an impromtu outdoor photo shoot is in order after getting less than desireable results with basement lighting.
6. Play baseball with children while the baby naps.
7. Ignore list some more, heat up a cup of coffee and decide a blog update is still more important (uh-oh....will I ever be ready for tomorrow???)

**Seriously...I need to get to work now! LOL

Power toast & homemade almond butter

Thanks to Diana at The Chic Life, the kids and I are hooked on our own version of Power Toast.  The kids like it with half almond butter and half dark chocolate peanut butter (soooo yummy.) I had mine with a TBS of almond butter and a small smear of the chocolate good stuff.  We sprinkled Chia seeds on it...a new thing for us (again thanks to Diana).

This piece was way too big for Abby...she only gets 1/2 slice now. Joshua always eats his crust first...on toast and sandwiches.  He likes the good stuff in the center the best so he saves it for last.

I have had this huge bag of whole raw almonds from Costco in the fridge forever so we decided to make some homemade almond butter.  All we did we throw a bunch of almonds into the food processor(about 2-3 cups) and mixed it to death until it was creamy and delicious.  We added a little bit of salt since they were unsalted. I read online we can store it in the fridge for up to 4 weeks. Power toast for weeks! :) I think a TBS of almond butter is 2 WW points.  (At least that's how I count it.)

Nothing new on the scrappy or crafty side here. :( I never seem to have the time!!!  Gotta find some time...I am having withdrawls!

Wooden Summer Blocks

Jeremy cut some wooden blocks for me awhile back and I have used them for a couple of projects.  I wanted a new table decoration for summer and I thought these would work but the word is too long for the table center. Oops.  Anyhow, they still look cute up on one of the plant shelves. :) I used one of the TSR kits from March. Joshua helped me paint the blocks. :)

Have a great weekend!  We hope to hit the Farmer's Market tomorrow...yippeee!!

It's finally done! Picnic quilt and a table runner

I finally finished this little picnic quilt for the girls. Abby picked out the fabrics several weeks or so ago and it has been hard to find the time to work on it.  The "quilting" gave me the most trouble because I really didn't know what to do or how to do it.  I just have a small sewing machine (which is an AMAZING sewing machine actually, just hard to "quilt" on since it doesn't have a long quilting arm) so learning how to manuever the quilt around to do the quilting was a challenge.  I ended up buying a walking foot and that helped a lot.  Despite numerous mistakes and re-do's, I am anxious to make another one.  I think I want to get one of those feet that lets you free quilt.  Because I didn't have one of these, I could only do straight stiches on this.  Oh, and I decided to finish the binding by hand and I am so glad I did! I think it looks much better than a machine finished binding and it really wasn't hard at all.  It only took two nights of movies/tv watching after the kids were in bed to finish. :) (Or, maybe it was three nights actually.)

I just could not get everyone to stop and take a nice photo. LOL

Here's the best I could get.

Next up is either a denim rag quilt (which I already have all the fabric for...old jeans and some pretty plaids for the back) or this one- http://obsessivelystitching.blogspot.com/2010/04/first-quilt-ever.html which I probably have most of the fabric for as well.

Another quick project we did last week was to dress up our table for the fourth of July.  The reverse of this table runner is a pretty everyday fabric...cream with soft maroonish flowers.  I will share a picture once we figure out a fun centerpiece to go along with it. Any ideas the kids can help with??

Two more layouts

I got two quick layouts done yesterday during naptime with my TSR kit.  They have a fun challenge every month to try to use the kit (there are actually four small kits in the one kit-each one very different) and yesterday was the deadline. I finished my other two pages with the kit earlier int eh month...I still have most of the kit left to scrap with-woohoo! Here's what I accomplished in the very short amount of free time I had.  :)

I hope you get some time to scrap!!
Stacey